Rumor: Hall of Famer in discussions with an NHL front office

TSN insider Darren Dreger dropped a bomb on the hockey world today when he announced that Chris Pronger, a key member of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, may be leaving the position to join an NHL team’s staff.

If you thought Pronger as NHL disciplinarian was a weird fit, how does Pronger as a Florida Panthers executive seem? Ironically, the fit may not be as strange as it seems. Earlier today the Panthers hired veteran tough guy Shawn Thornton as its VP of Business Operations, so the addition of Pronger, another longtime NHL pugilist, seems like a natural fit. 

Pronger, of course, is an accomplished player and one of the most feared defensemen to ever play the game. He’s a Stanley Cup champion, Hart Trophy winner and a member of the NHL’s Triple Gold Club. Since retiring from post-concussion syndrome in 2011, he’s worked with the NHL’s head office in New York City and appears ready to take the next step in his second career as a hockey executive.